US Congressman James Leach, leader of the US delegation at today's inauguration ceremony for President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), said yesterday the US is "proud" of Taiwan's democracy but does not welcome any moves toward independence.
Leach, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, said Beijing's statement on Taiwan on Monday showed China has serious concerns.
"This is a time for great caution on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The US has a long-term approach that does not welcome the idea of independence. We are very apprehensive that events could get out of control," Leach said.
Leach and other members of the US delegation, including American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Douglas Paal, joined a reception ahead of the presidential inauguration at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall last night.
Commenting on the strongly-worded statement from Beijing, Leach said the statement contained a moderate degree of optimism that communication would improve.
But the statement also included a degree of coercion that "might not be helpful," Leach noted.
"We are very hopeful there would be great caution at this time on both sides," he said. "For the sake of the people of Taiwan, we are hopeful that the tension will not increase."
But Leach affirmed the support of the US government for Taiwan's political development.
"The US government is ... proud of the way in which Taiwan democracy is expressing itself in terms of free elections," Leach said.
Asked whether the US wanted to see Chen repeat his "five noes" pledge in today's inauguration speech, Leach said Chen is a "very extraordinarily intelligent" and "thoughtful" man who writes his own speeches.
Leach and the US delegation met with Chen yesterday, but the congressman said he did not know what the president will say in the speech.
"I would be surprised if it is an antagonistic speech," he said.
Commenting on Chen's agenda for constitutional reform by 2006, Leach said that the US would like Taiwan's democratic processes to unfold in a way that recognizes the reality behind the cross-strait situation.
Meanwhile, Richard Bush, one of three former AIT directors to join today's inauguration ceremony, said the statement Beijing made on Monday was "consistent with past positions."
Also attending the reception, Bush said, "The leadership in China is worried its message is not getting through to the people of Taiwan, so they want to restate it clearly.
"On the one hand, they offered some benefits; on the other hand, it set a fairly high price to get the benefits. President Chen has to abandon separatist activities. Many of the things President Chen does, in China's interpretations, fall into that category," Bush said.
But if Beijing sincerely wants progress in cross-strait relations, it has to "moderate its position even more," he said.
Bush added that if Chen's constitutional reforms focus on political institutions, it would be proper for China to accept the reforms.
During his first term, Chen had abided by his "five noes" pledge, Bush said.
AIT interim chairman William Brown told the reception that Taiwan-US ties will remain "very good."
Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski and lieutenant governors from California and Kansas will witness today's ceremony. Kansas Lieutenant Governor John Moore also attended the opening of his state's trade office in Taipei on Tuesday.
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday appealed to the authorities to release former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) from pretrial detention amid conflicting reports about his health. The TPP at a news conference on Thursday said that Ko should be released to a hospital for treatment, adding that he has blood in his urine and had spells of pain and nausea followed by vomiting over the past three months. Hsieh Yen-yau (謝炎堯), a retired professor of internal medicine and Ko’s former teacher, said that Ko’s symptoms aligned with gallstones, kidney inflammation and potentially dangerous heart conditions. Ko, charged with
RSS